Setsuna F. Seiei (刹那・F・セイエイ, Setsuna Efu Seiei) is the main protagonist of the anime, Mobile Suit Gundam 00. Setsuna is a Gundam Meister, serving under the paramilitary group, Celestial Being.[1] He was once a member of Ali al-Saachez's KPSA, serving as a child guerilla during the Krugis Civil War conflict.[1][2] In the course of the series, Setsuna became the first Innovator, which is the next step in the Human evolution according to Celestial Being Founder Aeolia Schenberg.[3]

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At the beginning of the series, Setsuna is a person who is stoic, quiet, and never open that much to his companions. When he speaks though, he goes straight to the point and directly tells what he feels. Most of the time, he is a man of action, as he lets his actions speak for itself. In a way, he is impulsive; when he feels the urge to something on a whim, he will not hesitate to do it. One example was when he proposed to confront Ali al-Saachez outside their Mobile Suits despite the secrecy that Celestial Being was trying to uphold at the time. This behaviour sometimes leads his crew mates to be cautious of what he might do during missions. Despite of this, one factor that made him a great asset to Celestial Being is his sense of duty. Even if he fails on anything, he wouldn't allow himself to fail as the Meister of Celestial Being's Mobile weapons, the Gundams.

Setsuna wanted to be a Gundam, which is Celestial Being's symbol for eradicating war. In the past, Setsuna was saved by the 0 Gundam during the Azadistan-Krugis Conflict. During that time, he was clinging to life as his comrades were being annihilated by the enemy mobile suit forces. They had been believed to fight in the name of God, but the helpless situation had led Setsuna to abandon his faith. Being rescued by 0 Gundam from an imminent death drew Setsuna's total admiration towards it. When he was invited to become a Gundam Meister, he accepted it, wanting to be just like the Gundam from his past.

As a young man who grew up as a soldier and a destroyer, Setsuna embraced the concept of fighting to end war. It was the only tool he knew to become the embodiment of the Gundam. However, as his journey as a Gundam Meister unfolds, he learned about other means that can also lead to peace. At first, he despised Marina Ismail's "peaceful negotiations" and thought it was counterproductive when ending a conflict. However, he came to understand the feelings of Marina, who also desired peace despite the difference in approach. He also met Saji Crossroad and other civilians, who just wanted to continue their peaceful lives. There was also his comrades in Celestial Being. He learned that even though they were different, they all desired a peaceful future. He became more open to understanding people and their motivations.

Setsuna later learned that the pilot that had saved him 11 years ago, Ribbons Almark, was manipulating the world through oppression. The one he had inspired to be was the one distorting the world. He realized was being deluded by the same kind of distortion that had made him become a child guerrilla in the past. The fact shook him and made him question his reason for fighting. However, his desire to fight for his friends and the future helped him to move on. Evolving into a genuine Innovator, he decided to continue fighting against those that hinder peace and to create a path to the future for his comrades. After the fight against the false Innovators, he chose to stay in Celestial Being, fighting for the sake of a vision of a peaceful future for humanity.

Setsuna mostly specialized in close quarters combat. He has some knowledge in ballistic weaponry use, which he works on to improve during the course of the series. He has some knowledge and skills in infiltration, being the one to be trusted most of the time with missions that involve intelligence gathering. Most of the disciplines he knew about combat had been learned back from his child guerrilla days during the Krugis Civil War conflict.

In piloting, there are seemingly low opinions about Setsuna and his skills. Early in Season 1, Celestial Being Alejandro Corner commented that Setsuna mostly depends on his Gundam's capabilities in battle when he saw Exia in action during the Azadistan civil war. Setsuna's skill as a pilot seemed less than that of his nemesis', i.e. Ali al-Saachez and Graham Aker. However, Setsuna does show improvements in his piloting skills later in the series. In Season 2, Mister Bushido (Graham's alter ego) commented about how Setsuna has improved his aiming skills during their battle on the Middle East. Setsuna's developed skills through battle experience was one of deciding factors in his battle against the Innovade Ribbons Almark.

At the later half of Season 2, Setsuna began evolving into an Innovator. Setsuna gained extraordinary abilities that includes spatial awareness, precognition, quick reflex, and mental awareness, all of which helped him improve his combat piloting. Setsuna has a high level of Quantum Brainwaves, but the actual scope of its abilities has not been clearly defined.

Setsuna has black messy wavy hair, dark brown eyes and slight dark skin. He is slender which doesn't seem muscular. In civilian outfit, he often wears a scarf, that of cream or red colour; white long sleeved shirt with blue cloth wrapped around the waist; dark pants and black shoes. He sometimes sport a navy blue jacket over the shirt. In missions, he wears blue Gundam Meister pilot suit.

Five years after Season 1, Setsuna became taller, with his face more longer than the usual round. He also sports a new Celestial Being uniform, with blue colour jacket, blue and white shirt, white pants and dark boots. He also wears a new Gundam Meister pilot suit.

Born as Soran Ibrahim,[4] Setsuna grew up in the former Middle Eastern country of Krugis Republic. At a young age, Soran was abducted by KPSA Leader Ali al-Saachez and was brainwashed into the teachings of the holy war.[2] Upon killing his parents at the age of 8, Soran joined with the child guerrillas in the KPSA and participated in the Krugis Civil War happening at the time.[2] In A.D. 2301, Soran took part in the guerrilla's last stand against the invading Azadistan Mobile Suit Forces in Krugis, which killed most of his comrades.[1] He was saved at the last minute by the intervention of Celestial Being's Humanoid Mobile Suit, GN-000 0 Gundam.[1]

Soran was later added by the Gundam Meister Ribbons Almark into the roster of nominated Gundam Meisters [5] and in A.D. 2305, he was recruited to join in with the Ptolemaios Crew to prepare for their armed interventions in next two years.[6] Soran's young age was a problem to his comrades and was the source of growing suspicions about his recommendation, but because Veda specifically recommended him, the issue was not further pursued. Soran was given the GN-001 Gundam Exia and was given the code name Setsuna F. Seiei.[6][7]

During Celestial Being's debut, Setsuna in Gundam Exia infiltrated Advanced European Union's (AEU) military grounds in Africa. There, he decapitated AEU's state of the art mobile suit Enact in front of many foreign delegates. Setsuna's first act in Africa officially marks the beginning of Celestial Being's armed intervention. As he retreated, multiple AEU mobile suits from the La Tour gave chase, revealing numbers exceeding from that permitted by the treaties. Setsuna was backed-up by fellow Gundam Meister Lockon Stratos in Gundam Dynames.

Not long after, Setsuna and the rest of the Gundam Meisters performed an armed intervention on the ongoing ethnic conflict in Ceylon. Reminded by a scene from his past, Setsuna rushed in and quickly annihilated the superior HRL/Tamil mobile suit coalition. He later turned against the weaker Sinhalese forces after they attempted to gain ground despite the commotion. After the operation, Setsuna had a short encounter on his way back with a juvenile Union Flag belonging to Lieutenant Graham Aker.

Afterwards, Setsuna met with the Gundam Meisters in HRL Orbital Elevator, "Tenchu", to see Tieria off to space. They wondered why Setsuna was late. After Tieria had left, Setsuna and the rest of the Meisters left for their next missions. Setsuna went back to Ceylon to attack HRL's Garrison 7. After decimating the Tierens, he faced Sergei Smirnov's Tieren Mobility Type. Setsuna was able to disarm Sergei's Tieren, but Sergei was able to grip on Exia's head. As a result, Setsuna completely decapitated the Tieren using a beam saber. After the mission, Setsuna went to live in a residential unit in Japan, where he first met with engineer student, Saji Crossroad. Setsuna learned later that the HRL had made a decision of fighting against Celestial Being after the recent interventions.

Due to the Celestial Being's activities, Taribia, which holds the Union's Orbital Tower, "Tower", made a timely succession from the Union, thinking that Celestial Being would protect the country from Union aggression. Exia with the rest of the Gundams attacked the Taribian Ground Forces for instigating a potential conflict against Union. The Taribia immediately withdrew its decision to succeed and arranged negotiations with the Union. As Setsuna withdrew from the Taribian airspace, a custom black Flag, piloted by Graham Aker, chased after Exia. The Flag has shown an improved speed and maneuverability, but Setsuna withdrew from the battle by going underwater.

The AEU and the nation of Moralia decided to perform a huge military exercise in an attempt to provoke an armed intervention from the Gundams and try to capture them. Celestial Being decided to intervene using all of their Gundams. Before the intervention, Setsuna went to Celestial Being's base in the Pacific to receive additional weapons from Technician Ian Vashti, completing Exia's "Seven Swords". Setsuna started the operation by attacking the ground forces in southwestern part of Moralia. After Setsuna had completed his first task, a prototype Enact intercepted him and overwhelmed Exia with linear shots and mobile suit kicks. He immediately recognized the enemy pilot's voice as the one belonging to his former KPSA mentor, Ali al-Saachez. As the enemy Enact pushed Exia to the corner, the memory of killing his own mother due to Ali's orders flashed through Setsuna's mind. Infuriated, Setsuna increased the particle output in Exia's GN Blade to slice through the enemy's Blade Rifle, forcing the Enact to step back. He called out the enemy using light communication to come out of the Mobile Suit. The enemy only complied after seeing Setsuna went out of Exia's cockpit. After confirming it was his past mentor, Setsuna quickly drew out his gun, which prompted Ali to drew out his. Then, a beam from Dynames came flashing through the space between them. Ali al-Saachez quickly withdrew. After that, all of the Gundams headed to the enemy headquarters and annihilated the enemy units there within 5 minutes, forcing the AEU and Moralia to surrender unconditionally. After the Gundams had returned to their base in the Pacific, Lockon disciplined Setsuna for the latter's action in Moralia. Concluding that Setsuna is a liability, Tieria also pointed his side arm at Setsuna. Setsuna also responded by pulling out his own gun. Allelujah reminded both of them that they were both chosen by Veda for a reason. Both of the Meisters put away their guns and Setsuna stated that his own existence is proof enough that he deserved to be a Gundam Meister.

Not long after the Moralia operation, the Gundam Meisters received the news about the indiscriminate bombings that happened all over the world. The terrorist cell responsible asked for the disarmament of Celestial Being or the attacks would continue. The Gundam Meisters were sent in stand-by with their Gundams to different places around the world. Setsuna went to AEU Scottish Highland. While there, a bombing happened in the nearby city and he was ordered to investigate. He eventually pursued the suspicious figure behind the attacks, but he was stopped by a police officer in the area. Fortunately, he was saved by the Azadistan Princess Marina Ismail, whose convoy was just happened to be passing by. Marina had recognized Setsuna as one of her countrymen and had sought to meet with him. The two talked about the chaotic situation in Azadistan, and their differing opinions about Celestial Being. After learning that Setsuna was from Krugis and was continuing to pursue fighting, Marina thought that Setsuna was sent to assassinate her, but Setsuna instead revealed his real identity as a member of Celestial Being. Before leaving, he warned her of their impending armed intervention to Azadistan. He later received that the terrorist responsible for the indiscriminate attacks were the La Edenra, and was ordered to attack one of their cargo ships in the Atlantic. Setsuna sank the ship and destroyed the accompanying mobile armour.

Four months after the Moralia operation, Setsuna with his Gundam returned to Ptolemaios in HRL geostationary orbit to do a scheduled maintenance. While there, the ship was located and attacked by the HRL Chobu forces. With the rest of the Gundams, Exia was launched to protect the Ptolemaios. The HRL's true purpose was to capture the Gundams, but they retreated after losing most of their forces against Gundam Kyrios and Nadleeh. After recovering from the incident, the Ptolemaios sent Exia and Dynames to South Africa for another armed intervention.

While the Ptolemaios was still in Lagrange 4, a civil conflict struck in the Kingdom Azadistan after the abduction of Conservative Leader Rasa Massoud Rachmadi. Setsuna and Lockon were asked to standby as the agents investigate the matter. Setsuna volunteered to roam around Azadistan and do a parallel investigation. In the evening, fighting between Azadistan Mobile Suit Force broke out and Setsuna was ordered to attack both sides fighting near the capital. As Setsuna intercept more incoming Mobile Suit Forces from outside the capital, he witnessed people fighting against the Mobile Anfs. Setsuna couldn't save even a single child from getting killed, leaving him in despair. The next day, Setsuna was sent to investigate the missile attacks that had happened on the Azadistan Solar Power Receiver Facility. There, he accidentally met Union Captain Graham Aker and Technical officer Billy Katagiri. He was interrogated by Graham due to his suspicious behaviour, but the captain let him off and even slipped out that an Enact, possibly connected to the PMC's missing unit, was at the area during the missile attack. Setsuna got a hint who was responsible for the whole mess and launched with Exia to the ruins of Krugis, where he was intercepted by no other than Ali al-Saachez in the PMC Enact. Setsuna asked why was Ali still fighting and where was his God. Ali didn't reply, and pinned Exia down in an attempt to force open its cockpit. Fortunately, Setsuna was able to slash one of the Enact's arms, forcing Ali to retreat. Massoud Rachmadi was later rescued from his captors, and Setsuna, in Exia, accompanied the Rasa back to the Azadistan Palace. Celestial Being tactician Sumeragi had sent an order for Exia to go unarmed to show their sincerity to end the conflict. Setsuna complied and didn't retaliate against the hostile civilians and mobile suit forces at the palace grounds. After handing over Massoud Rachmadi, Setsuna told Marina before he left to continue promoting peace in her country.

The Ptolemy Crew decided to go for a brief vacation while doing maintenance on the Ptolemy. Setsuna went back to his place in Japan. During this time, the three power blocs announced their upcoming joint military exercise. After learning about the possible terrorist attack on a nuclear facility in Taklamakan Desert, Setsuna was called to stand-by together with the rest of the Gundam Meisters. On the way, he went for a brief visit on Marina Ismail's sleeping quarters.

During the mission in Taklamakan Desert, Setsuna and Tieria were responsible in providing an escape route for the team. It was suspected that the three blocs, who had gathered around the HRL border days before, had planned to trap the Gundams. After an escape trench had been made, missile attacks immediately commenced to pin down Exia and Virtue. Setsuna and the rest of the Gundam Meisters were forced on defensive, and it lasted for 16 hours. When the attack seized, Setsuna and Tieria immediately split up to flee the area. However, a mobile armour Agrissa ambushed Exia on the way and ended up trapping it under a Plasma Field. Unexpectedly, a mysterious group of newly arrived Gundams rescued the Gundam Meisters in Taklamakan. Gundam Meisters expressed surprise about the newly arrived Gundams as they safely returned in the Pacific.

Later in space, the Ptolemy Crew decided to go to the coordinates left by the new Gundam Meisters. The crew was cautious at first, sending Setsuna on standby in Exia. But after seeing that the new team only meant to have discussions, the Gundam Meisters were all sent to personally meet the incoming guests. The introduction set off into an ugly start when Setsuna angrily pushed away one of the Trinities (as they called themselves), Nena Trinity, for kissing him on the lips. The Ptolemy Crew tried to get information about the new team, but Team Trinity did not comply to answer. The new team only went to inform the Ptolemy that they will act independently with their operations. After the meeting, the Trinities attacked the MSWAD base in Union America. Setsuna and the Gundam Meister's suspicions continued to grow.

As the Trinity, with their Gundam Thrones, continued with their operations, Setsuna and his fellow Gundam Meisters were ordered to watch and to standby on Earth. Setsuna's concern grew as civilian were killed during the attacks caused by Gundams. After hearing the large civilian casualties in the attack on Iris Corporation Factory, Setsuna had his last straw and intercepted the Gundam Thrones for promoting conflict. During the battle, he was supported by Tieria Erde in Gundam Virtue. Lockon also joined in, but Team Trinity then decided to withdraw. Before leaving, Johann Trinity revealed to Lockon about Setsuna's real identity and past affiliations with the KPSA, which was responsible for the deaths of Lockon's parents and little sister.

Back in their island base, Setsuna was interrogated by Lockon about what the Trinity had said and he did not deny. Lockon explained how his family had been caught in KPSA's suicide bombing in Ireland and how it motivated him to become a Gundam Meister. He took out his gun and pointed it at Setsuna. In turn, Setsuna revealed how he had been brainwashed to fight in pretense of a holy war in the past by Ali al-Saachez, who he also had confronted back in Moralia. Lockon asked what Setsuna planned to do with Gundam Exia, and Setsuna answered he wanted to eradicate conflicts like a Gundam. After hearing Setsuna's Gundam fanaticism, Lockon dropped his gun and laughed away his hatred on Setsuna behind him.

After the three power blocs had announced to form a military alliance in UN, Setsuna, Lockon and Tieria were ordered to return back to space. At their return, they received the news that the HRL had managed to drive off the Gundam Thrones from destroying the Guangzhou military base. The Ptolemy team later learned that the HRL had finally gotten their hands on mobile suits equipped with pseudo solar reactors.

With the threat of the new enemy GN mobile suit, GN-X, Setsuna and the rest of the Gundam Meisters were put on standby in anticipation of an attack. While waiting for orders, Setsuna dreamed of Marina urging him to stop fighting. A team of 19 enemy GN-Xs, consisting of Union and AEU forces, eventually found Ptolemy, and the Gundams were launched to face them. During the fighting, the Gundams were suddenly shut down due to Veda's sudden suppression. Setsuna was agitated by the turn of events, comparing it to what had happened to him in Krugis. Not wanting to simply not do anything, just as what Marina had said in his dream, he urged his Gundam to move. Fortunately, the Gundams were activated once again thanks to Ptolemy's interference. Exia was able to destroy one of the GN-Xs. The enemy later retreated with the appearance of Ptolemy's GN-Arms.

The damages from last fight led Setsuna and the Ptolemy Crew to return to Lagrange 1 for repairs. At this time, the UN Forces officially announced its operation "Fallen Angels" with the goal of eliminating the Gundams. The team contemplated their destruction as they watched the Team Trinity get chased by the HRL GN-X team. Doubting it was the case, Setsuna asked his crew members about the real reason the Gundams exist. Lockon caught on to what Setsuna was trying to imply and volunteered to go with him in an armed intervention against the Trinity and the UN Forces. The crew objected to Setsuna's plan, but Sumeragi permitted him to go. Lasse, with the Assault Container, went with Setsuna instead of Lockon due to Lockon's injury.

On Earth, Setsuna and Lasse found the Gundam Thrones fighting amongst themselves. Setsuna eventually learned that the Gundam Throne Zwei had been stolen by Ali al-Saachez and was immediately locked into a battle against the former mentor. He tried to asked how Ali got the Gundam, but the mercenary just responded on how incredible the Gundams are as weapons. During the battle, Throne Zwei was overwhelming Exia and was about to finish it, but a secret system was suddenly activated inside Exia's GN Drive, helping Exia to outmaneuver Throne Zwei and defeat it in battle. On Setsuna's screen, Aeolia Schenberg appeared, lending to Setsuna the Gundam and its GN Drive.

Later, Setsuna and Lasse received orders from Ptolemy to immediately return. Setsuna reported about what had happened and the UN Forces' recent focus of hunting Ptolemy in space. On their way back, Setsuna was asked by Lasse if he had found an answer to his questions; however, he has not yet grasped the idea. Ptolemy was later caught in combat against the UN Forces, and Sumeragi asked Setsuna to back up Lockon as Dynames destroyed the enemy's carrier ships. Setsuna had reached the location, but was unable to save Lockon from getting killed in combat. The crew mourned for his death.

After the lost of Lockon Stratos, Setsuna and the Ptolemy Crew contemplated their next set of action. The Gundam Meisters ultimately decided to continue fighting the next UN offensive. While on standby, Setsuna learned that Lockon had fought Ali al-Saachez before he died. Setsuna decided to carry on Lockon's will. He later visited the remains of Dynames, where he was joined by crew mate Feldt Grace. Not long, the UN forces returned to attack Ptolemy. With the GN-Xs was a huge gold mobile armour, the Alvatore, which immediately pulled preemptive attacks against the Ptolemy. While Kyrios and Nadleeh were sent to deal with the enemy mobile suits, the Assault Container, with Setsuna and Lasse, focused on destroying the mobile armour.

Despite their efforts, the Assault Container could not bulge the enemy's GN Field and anti-beam defenses. The mobile armour's attacks continued, which eventually crippled the Ptolemy. Setsuna and Lasse were later forced to leave the Assault Container after it was ripped apart in half by the enemy. As the Alvatore counterattacked, the two focused on repelling the attacks by using the combined GN-Arms Type-E. They fared better, as the GN Arms Type-E managed to get close the enemy mobile armour, successfully destroying both its arms and damaging its starboard. The GN-Arms was eventually damaged by the enemy rain of particle beams, but Exia was able to deal significant damages, ultimately incapacitating the enemy mobile armour from further fighting.

As Setsuna checked on Lasse, a mobile suit inside Alvatore, Alvaaron, started attacking Exia. The enemy mobile suit, like its mobile armour, possessed a GN-Field and strong firepower. Not giving up the fight, the pilot of the Alvatore and Alvaaron, Alejandro Corner, sought to rule the world by sacrificing Celestial Being and the Gundams to the new world order. Setsuna found Alejandro's view as the source of the world's distortion and decided to eliminate him. After surviving Alvaaron's huge beam blast through Trans-Am, Exia broke through the Alvaaron's GN-Field and destroyed the enemy mobile suit in close combat.

During the four year silence of Celestial Being, Setsuna lost contact with Celestial Being. After the fight with Graham Aker's SVSM-01E Union Flag Custom II, Setsuna salvaged the Exia. The salvaged Exia was called GN-001RE Gundam Exia Repair. The head was reattached to Exia but the left arm was replaced with a camouflage sheet and Exia's left optic was replaced with a Tieren's. After 4 years the Earth Sphere Federation founded an autonomous peace keeping force called the A-Laws. Setsuna was tracking the A-Laws in a colony labor section under high gravity for anti-goverment elements such as Katharon. Among those in the colony forced to hard labor was Saji Crossroad a person who used to live next door to Setsuna 4 years ago in an apartment. Katharon attempts to rescue their allies in the colony but was quickly dispatched by the A-Laws. The A-Laws sent Anti Personnel Automatons to kill the labourers, Setsuna met Saji and went in the Exia Repair to fight the A-Laws. Due to the lack of repair and the A-Law's suits increased output Exia almost lost the battle until Tierie Erde intervened in the GN-008 Seravee Gundam. Setsuna went to Celestial Being's new ship the Ptolemaios II and met with his former comrades. During the time etsuna rejoined Celestial Being, the engineer's of Celestial Being were working on the twin drive system. (...)